Recently, several videos have been circulating on social media claiming that a woman in India has given birth to a snake. The videos show different locations for the incident, such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and others. Some of them also show an ultrasound scan image that appears to show a snake-like creature inside a woman’s womb. But is this news real or fake?
The verdict: Fake
After doing some research, we can confidently say that this news is fake. It is based on false and misleading information and pictures. There is no evidence or credible source to support this story. It is likely that someone created this story by using different sources and editing them together.
The facts: Why it is impossible
First of all, it is scientifically impossible for humans to give birth to snakes or any other non-human animal. Humans and snakes are different species with different genetic codes, reproductive systems and modes of development. Humans are mammals, giving birth to live young, while snakes are reptiles that mostly lay eggs. The genetic makeup, anatomical structures and reproductive processes of humans and snakes are fundamentally different.
Secondly, there is no evidence that any human woman has ever given birth to a snake or any other species. All the cases that have been reported have been either hoaxes or cases of mistaken identity. For example, in 2015, a woman in Somalia supposedly gave birth to a live snake, but it turned out to be a case of pseudocyesis (a false pregnancy) and a coincidental encounter with a snake³. In 2016, a woman in Philippines allegedly gave birth to a snake-like creature, but it was later identified as an eel common in the area⁴.
The sources: How to spot the hoax
The videos that claim that a woman in India has given birth to a snake are not reliable sources of information. They are based on false and misleading information and pictures. Some of them use manipulated images of ultrasound scans or unrelated footage of doctors in operating theatres¹². They also do not provide any details about the woman, the hospital, the doctors or the snake.
If you encounter such videos or stories on social media, do not believe them or share them. Instead, do some research and check the facts from credible sources. You can also use fact-checking websites like Factly or Hoax or Fact to verify the authenticity of such claims.
The conclusion: Be aware and be critical
The news that a woman in India has given birth to a snake is fake. It is based on false and misleading information and pictures. It is scientifically impossible for humans to give birth to snakes or any other non-human animal. There is no evidence that any human woman has ever given birth to a snake or any other species.
We hope this article has helped you understand why this news is fake and how to spot such hoaxes. Be aware and be critical of what you see and hear on social media. Do not believe everything you see or share without checking the facts first.
References:
¹: Woman Gives Birth to a Snake in India: A Hoax or a Miracle?
²: The Claim that a woman gave birth to a snake in India is a hoax – FACTLY
³: A Woman in Somalia Supposedly Gave Birth to a Live Snake – VICE